Borough Hill

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The last remaining radio mast on the hill

Borough Hill is a hill to the east of the town of Daventry in the English county of Northamptonshire. It is 200 m above sea level and dominates the surrounding area.

Remains have been found on the hill of an Iron Age hillfort, and of a later Roman villa and farming settlement.

In 1925 the BBC constructed a transmitting station which initially was used for Long Wave, and Short Wave broadcasting. The Long Wave service was moved to a new and better transmitter station located at Wychbold village near Droitwich in 1934. In the early years of the second world war, tests were carried out using one the short wave transmitters to carry out research work into Radar.

In 1952 the BBC constructed a 720ft mast at nearby Dodford for the BBC Third Programme, with a 150 kw transmitter located in a building near to the Short Wave transmitter building; but in 1978 this service was discontinued and the mast removed in 1984.

Due to the nature of short wave broadcasting large areas of Brougher Hill was occupied with towers, mast to support large antenna's, and the transmissions from the short wave station could be heard across the world.

Many engineers were employed by the BBC to work at the station and a number decided to settle in Daventry, and to this day many former BBC staff remain in Daventry.

The BBC decided to close the station and on the 28 of March 1992 the last transmission took place, and all the transmission equipment was moved to other BBC World Service transmitters around the country, and station became a Electronic Service centre for the repair of BBC transmission equipment from all around the country, and a local transmitter maintenance team was also based here until the late 1990's.

The station has found many uses including the training of engineers, storage of equipment, spare antenna's and masts.

The station is owned by National Grid Wireless.

The former antenna field is now open grassland allowing free public access.